There, I said it out loud, and I’m waiting for the moms who have it together to haul me away. I’ve stumbled onto their secrets which I’m going to share with you. Actually, it’s not a secret, it’s so plain that we’ve glossed over it. Instead, we buy books, go to seminars, ask advice, and still feel like we come up short in the patience department. I want you try a 24 hour challenge based on how we were created as moms.

Your 24 Hour Challenge

These SEVEN steps below may make you stomp your feet in frustration because you may already know these things, but how often do you actually do them? How often do you actually listen to your body? I challenge you to just try it for 24 hours, what do you have to lose? If anything, it will make you more aware of your needs, as well as your kids.

1. Sleep 7 to 8 Hours

Yep, I know so very well what happens when I try to mother three spirited kids on less that eight hours of sleep. It’s similar to when your overtired, cranky toddler, has a meltdown in the middle of the grocery isle; just multiply it times four and that’s me laying on the floor. We were created for rest. The night sky’s were meant to give us rest, to lull us to sleep with the darkness as our blanket. Our bodies crave it, it gives our minds and bodies a chance to rest and recharge for the next day.

2. Begin Your Day with God, Surrender.You have no idea what is in store when your feet hit the floor, only God knows. You don’t know whether you’re daughter is going to make you late for an appointment because of a monstrous potty accident, nor do you know how you will react to such things. Only God does, so begin each day in His presence. Surrender your day to Him, surrender your check list, your children, your words. Out of all the tips anyone can give you, this is the most important. I cannot stress it enough. Surrendering the day helps us hear His still small voice, it gives us the opportunity to parent with grace.

3. Drink 6 to 8 Glasses of H-2-0 Even the tiniest cells in our bodies crave water, they crave it because it’s how they function. When we don’t drink the full 6 to 8 glasses of water a day, the insides of our body essentially, start throwing a tantrum. We become sluggish and tired. Staying hydrated keeps us alert, most of us grab two to three cups of coffee, tea, or soda; thinking that caffeine is needed to kick that sluggish feeling. I’m all for caffeinated beverages, but keep in mind those beverages dehydrate your body. So reach for a bottled water or two after your beloved caffeinated beverage!

4. Undivided Attention Please Have you suddenly become aware of a HUGE disastrous mess, simply because your back was turned on your kids? Most of the mayhem my children have caused have been because my attention was divided. Either between making much needed phone calls and playing with the kids, or making supper while trying to listen to their requests. Be fully present, make a commitment to say, “Right now, I am just a mom.” Their primary love language is attention, and boy do they know if you really aren’t paying attention. What happens when you try to make an important phone call? Our kiddos are magnets for mama’s attention!

5. Be Early Most meltdowns happen when I am trying to get out the door. Over time, I’ve learned to set my clocks forward 10 to 15 minutes. This enables me to be more patient while the kids are getting their socks on, turning off lights, and looking for their beloved toy that must travel with them. By the time they are buckled into their seats, we have actually arrived on time and no one is upset over being rushed, nor is Mama frustrated with getting all those little toes covered in socks and shoes!

6. Breathe No, I’m not talking about yoga exercises of breathing, I’m talking about learning to breathe during the most chaotic moments of your day. Your child is throwing a tantrum, your other one spilled paint on the table, and your oldest wants an instant decision in order to go to a friend’s house. Stop for a moment, breathe in your frustration and urge to freak out….then breathe it out! Refer back to my previous post about S.T.O.P. and H.A.L.T. Take a deep breath and walk through these exercises to keep you from completely freaking out in front of your kids. Remember there is a bigger picture that’s hard to see in the visual chaos in front of you.

So I challenge you to try these tips for 24 hours, you’ll be a more patient mom and your kids will notice too! Try it, see what a difference these tips make and let us know what you discovered along the way.

7. Get Organized.

The mornings when I can’t find my car keys, Tori’s glasses and then I have to run back to the house to grab Elijah’s lunch are the W.O.R.S.T. mornings ever. It’s worth your sanity and blood pressure to do what I do. Get organized the night before. Set a schedule, have your kids boring you their planners and backpacks, get them lined up by the door and everything else laid out the night before. It makes a world of difference.

If your life is anything like me, you’re probably trying to find your keys and get to the next desitation while avoiding the drive thru lane at Mc’D’s! So here are a few ways to organize your snack bin and lunch bin in your fridge!

Each time I go to the grocery store, I purchase a variety of healthy snacks and some not so healthy snacks. When I get home, I put the serving into snack bags and throw it all into the bowl. It sits in the bottom of my pantry where they can grab a snackwhen they want.

This also goes the same for my refrigerator. I have apples, cuties, whole and some in baggies with a little bit of lemon juice,sitting in my crisper drawer.

This idea is great to not only help give them independence, teach proper portions, but it’s great when you’re in the run to the next dance recital or park. Just grab a few bags and go!

Lunch Time

Lunch time is another area where we tend to get stuck in a rut, either we think our kids won’teat it, or we are tired of the choices we have. So make the choices you have fun and visit one of my favorite sites that my friend Stacy directed me to, www.superhealthykids.com. Here is what I do for lunch because my kids like it simple.

Fun lunch with snowman and start cookie cutters, the kids can help create the shapes.

Okay I had to add the pink tray picture, per Tori’s request, She didn’t think it was fair to upload just her brother’s!

On the run

For those of you who have baseball and dance right after school, consider making sammy’s or Lettuce Wraps ahead of time. Lettuce Wraps are super easy to prep, pack and eat on the road as long as you have a cooler with you. We love to make these for off-roading trips as well as lunches for camping trips.

Ingredients include:

-Condiments

-Romaine Lettuce Hearts

-Veggies, pictured are thinly sliced red bell peppers, but other ideas we have tried are:

Other Options

Simply purchase the items your family eats and leave out the condiements (except for the PB & J’s). Build your sammys and then wrap in indivudal portions.

RECAP

1. Purchase snacks and snack baggies.

2. Read the labels of your snacks and scoop the measured portion into baggies.

3. For fresh fruit, make a few bags ahead of time, wash and slice, add a squeeze of lemon juice.

4. Designate an area in your pantry for your kids and a drawer in your fridge.

5. Purchase supplies to make your own sandwiches. I usually make my own french bread, then add the things my kids like in between bread. Next slice it into small sandwiches and wrap it up with syran wrap. Whenever you or your kids are hungry or on the run, you have a bin full of heathy sandwiches and snacks!

5. Less whining and hearing “I’m hungry” from your child, and they are learning the proper portions!

It’s Saturday and I’ve been on hiatus from my site and from Her View From Home. I have several good reasons. 1. It was Christmas. 2. My husband had knee surgery and became the 4th child in my brood to look after. Compared to my other three kids, he has been by far the best at getting me to pull my hair out.

Now that I have him settled comfortably in bed (duck tape and prayers have helped), I’m in the process of de-cluttering and organizing my home, post Christmas mayhem. Tired of lets-just-throw-it-all-in-a-tote-and-untangle-it-next-year routine, I dived into Pintrest and found some great ideas for you, little mama! Plus I have tips to organize your kids stuff. 🙂

Christmas Ornaments

You can either save the boxes each ornament comes in, or save space and time with egg cartons.

(apartmenttherapy.com)

Get One, Toss Two

It happens every year, something gets upgraded or doubled up. The rule as I begin organizing the new loot is this: for each gift received, toss two counterparts.As you put away the holiday gifts, take time to sort through the items. For example if you or your children have received a new DVD, consider tossing two titles.

Set a box aside of things to toss. You and your children can decide leave the box on the doorstep of a family in need, leave the items at your local church, or give it to stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army.

Talking to your kids about those in need will help the process be a bit easier when it’s time to de-clutter, on top setting the example of helping others in need. This creates compassion for others, gratitude in what God has blessed them with AND restores your sanity because your home isn’t so cluttered.

Designate & Assign Quarters

When a new item arrives, decide where the best place in your home is for storage. For example, the window seats my husband made me have two purposes, a place to lounge and to store items my kids play with frequently. Each cubby is assigned certain items. Cubby # 1. Games, Cubby # 2. Coloring books, crayons, pencils, etc. Cubby #3. Mom’s books, Cubby # 4. Kids’ gloves, hats and scarves.

Of course, as the seasons change and the kids grow up, the items will change. The key is to get the memo out to your family members so they can help maintain a clean home.

Set Up a Toy Library

It is inevitable no matter home much sorting and tossing, toys will be floating all over your home. Mine tends to look like the Febreeze commercial You know, the one where the mom is picking up toys and Febreezing the carpet, only to turn around two seconds later to observe all the toys back on the floor? That is my house, multiplied by three kids!!!

We’ve done a few things to help with the toy overflow epidemic that is sure to happen after Christmas and birthday celebrations. My husband built book shelves for the kids in each of their rooms and we’ve also set up a toy library.

A toy library is simple and reserved for new and old toys alike that have value but aren’t played with as much right now because of the interest your child has in other toys. These toy library items will seem new and exciting if they’re given a rest for a few months, then brought out to liven up during a snowstorm or during a bout of “Mom-I’m-bored.”

A Toy Library can be set up several ways.

1. Reserve a closet in your home for all of your children’s toys.

2. Reserve the top part of each of your children’s closets

3. A Toy Trunk

4. Reserve shelves in your children’s playrooms.

5. Designate an area in your garage.

Use clear plastic totes or zip lock bags to store toys in. Label each container with what is inside, so you and your child knows where to return the item.

When your child checks out an item from the toy library, ask your child to replace it with something else from her stash of toys. This will keep the clutter down, the toys more fun, and proves what I’m always telling my kids, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

I don’t know how I did it, but I managed to double book my kids to be in two different places at the same time! My husband loves to tell friends that if my head wasn’t attached, I’d lose it too. So I’ve decided to take organization to a whole new level…eye level in my kitchen to be exact. I’m a fan of DIY projects and making my house a bit more homey and unique!

This is your first clue, CHALK BOARD PAINT!

And Here’s your second clue!

In one weekend, I reorganized our family schedule. At a glance, I can look at my wall and know who needs to be where, what time, and if they need to bring anything. Secondly, my husband can now on the same page with me! Because I love the results of painting magnetic paint and chalkboard paint on my wall, I also painted my pantry door and have my menu on the top. The bottom I leave open for the kids to get creative when I’m busy in the kitchen. This is a simple, easy, affordable and fun DIY to get organized.

Here’s my kitchen wall. I used a yard stick to pencil a rectangle on my wall.
Following the instructions, I painted the Magnetic paint on first. It’s not as thick as paint, so keep a rag handy for runs.
After the magnetic paint dried, I added the Chalk Board paint. It needs three coats with at least two hours drying time in between.

My completed project. I have my schedule posted as Monday-Sunday and add appointments as needed.

Need some more creative images to help plan your DIY Schedule? Take a look at the photos I pulled from Google for Chalkboard and Magnetic Paint!

So How Do You Do It?

Look for a large area on your wall, living room, kitchen, office room.

Use a yard stick and lightly pencil in the area you want to paint.

After you’ve figured out the size of the area you want to use, clean the wall to be painted.

Begin with the magnetic paint and follow the instructions on the back.

Once the three different coats have completely dried, begin adding the chalk board paint.

This too will need three different coats with at least two hours of dry time in between applications.

Once the last coat of chalkboard paint has dried, the area needs to ‘cure’ for three days, per instructions of the paint.

When the paint has cured, rub a thick coat of chalk all over the board and then wipe it down.

Now you’re ready to add your schedule, to-do list, and even your menu!